A brain disorder that seriously affects a person’s ability to carry out daily activities. The most common form of dementia among older people is Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which initially involves the parts of the brain that control thought, memory, and language.
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2

There are 3 types:
Named for the brain areas that are affected, the frontal and temporal lobes, there are several different variants of this type of dementia. Some of these types of dementia have prominent problems with words - either slowly losing the ability to speak or losing the ability to makes sense when one talks. There is an impulsive, disinhibited personality variant also.
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3

It happens:
At a much younger age and the course of the disease is rapidly progressive with symptoms such as memory loss, getting lost driving the same route you've been driving for a long time, decrease in personal hygiene, later there is complete memory loss of even the simplest way of functioning that the individual needs total care. The prognosis is poor,
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5

Evolving:
There is no effective treatment for these illnesses yet, though aggressive research is underway. UCSF has a website / center with good updates, and they also operate a clinical trials unit.
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8

It's not good:
This can certainly be difficult and can get worse. Discuss her needs w/ her doctor (s) and slowly prepare for care decisions. Her need for more complete care might become urgent as time passes and planning can help. A problem w/ UTIs is that they plus the antibiotics can both cause problems for the brain and tat can worsen the dementia, etc. It's a vicious cycle and help will help. Best wishes!
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9

No:
No, foot numbness is not a symptom of fronto-temporal dementia. But being inactive and overweight can lead to diabetes, which can be associated with numb feet and a variety of other peripheral nerve problems. Hoping you can get your mother in to see her primary care physician for a checkup soon.
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10

UTI and abx:
Why is she getting UTI, most patients there is a reason, and the reason can be personal or anatomic, is there an issue with her urogenital tract etc? Next issue is does she have true UTI or a urine is positive and she gets treated, are there cultures done, and often patients can be colonized may not therapy. A discussion with her MD may be needed and she may need to see a Inf disease doc.
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12

Difficult to say:
Signs that someone is nearing the end of life include weight loss, decreased speech (fewer than 6 words per day), need for medical interventions like IV fluids, frequent infections, not walking any longer and decreased interactivity with others.
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15

This can be treated:
If your mother's encephalopathy is truly from hashimotos (autoimmune hypothyroidism), then it is reversible with treatment. She needs to see a doctor, be tested, and be treated immediately. Severe hashimotos can be life-threatening and is very easily treatable with thyroid replacement pills. If it does not seem to be improving, then there is probably something else going on that needs diagnosis.
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16

Depends:
Depending on how severe the above conditions are, and what other medical problems he has, it may be anywhere from 6 weeks to 5+ years. For your loved ones, particularly if they are mentally incapacitated, you would want to address end of life issues such as would they want to be maintained on a respirator, live in a nursing home etc. A social worker can help you with that.
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17

See below:
It affects the frontal lobes (front) and temporal lobes (sides) of the brain. Onset is usually earlier than alzheimer's. Initial sx may involve changes in personality, judgement and social functioning. Pick's disease is one of the forms of the frontotemporal dementia. Here's a link to fuller description of the disease http://www. Alz. Org/alzheimers_disease_frontotemporal_dementia. Asp.
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18

Can well be:
Although precise hereditary data is lacking due to the variable nature of many ftd presentations, it is thought that 20% may be associated with a mutation affecting chromosome 17, and there may be at least 4 different allelic presentations.
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19

Talk to your doctor:
I recommend evaluation and treatment by a doctor who specializes in dementia. If you were my patient or family member, I would want a second opinion to confirm the diagnosis. Also, I would have to know the underlying cause of the dementia. There are many causes: Alzheimers, Vascular, mixed, alcohol, Lewy Body, Pick's, etc. The type and cause determines treatment and prognosis. My best wishes to u!
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21

Confusing:
When getting dementia (and before diagnosis) day to day life can be very confusing. You forget things, and tasks which have been easier are now getting more difficult to get done. Decisions are harder to make. You can't think of words which are right on the tip of your tongue. You run into people you have met before, and cannot recall their names. All this can make for great anxiety and fear.
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22

Can be quite long:
Remember, an individual is not an average. With dementia dx, a person under 70 averages 10.7 yrs but less if they are frail or ill. In a study of all ages, average survival after DX of alzheimers or dementia was 4.5 yrs. But, with good care and an otherwise strong, healthy body - life with dementia can exceed averages by a lot yet it definitely shortens average life expectancy.
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24

Dementia and MS:
Some people with MS may have a large burden of lesions, either because they did not find a helpful treatment, or because they did not use treatment. There are times when MS can cause symptoms of dementia, although it is normally referred to as MS.

This is becoming less common with the greater number of treatments that are available. More than thirty years ago, this was more common.
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26

7 to 8 years:
Most studies indicate that the average life expectancy after being diagnoses with Lewy Body Dementia is 7 to 8 years. However, other individual factors such as overall health condition, nutrition and lifestyle can have a positive (or negative) effect on the life expectancy of these patients.
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29

Yes and no:
If there is an illness that runs in your family you should speak to your doctor about it. There are many types of dementia. Some of them are genetically passed on while others aren't. The most common type of dementia is alzheimers disease and there are 2 forms. The early onset form is highly heritable. Alcoholic dementia is not inherited though a propensity for alcohol dependence can be.
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34

Perhaps.....:
Perhaps it is a sign of depression. If your life lacks joy, concentration is poor, sleep or appetite are altered, you aren't as motivated to be involved with other people or activities - let your doctor know. Take care carol b.
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35

Good questions:
You may not mean "compulsory", but it might be advised that an elder with dementia take effective medication until they die. The selection of drugs may change over time, but they are intended to delay disease progress and relieve some behavioral symptoms. As there is no cure, this is the best that can be done. Causation is complex, but heredity appears to play a role in the risk.
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37

Simple....:
Hydration, fruits and vegetables, if she can take. If not miralax/Metamucil regularly. Medicine Amitza is a good help so also Linzess....may have to adjust the dose as per effect.
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38

Yes:
Yes they are still wise in many areas. Memory loss and confusion typically start with difficulty in forming new memories and gradually progress into other areas. Factual knowledge is retrieved in a different manner that personal memories. The degree of dementia determines which areas are most profoundly affected so a person can be wise but unable to identify familiar individuals.
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